American Autobahn (Interstate 5)

Contrary to the common notion that the famed Autobahn is found only in Germany, I would like to respectfully submit that California’s Interstate 5 is America's Autobahn, particularly in the stretch between Stockton (home of the real Bates Motel, imho) and Santa Clarita. Imagine going 125 kph (75 mph) in the slow lane and having drivers flipping you the bird as they careen past for going "too slow".

Interstate 5 begins in the north at the beautiful Peace Arch at the Canadian/American border, and on the day that my son Caleb & I set out, we were able to enjoy the view (and fumes) of the SUV's in front of us for three hours and five minutes before finally crossing said border into the USofA. During that purgatory known as "border delays", my son and I dubbed our little Mazda "Death Cab For Kitty", because one of our cats loves to travel, and the other most decidedly does not.

Those with clever skills of detective work will probably be able to discern from the two pictures below which cat (despite having only three legs) enters life with zest, adventuresome interest, and a hearty purr, and which cat (possessing all four limbs and anthropomorphizing the term "carsick") is often referred to with the sub-title "Not Right In The Head".

Interstate 5 eventually ends at another international border, which Death Cab For Kitty crossed without incident two days later, but with a zoologist's collection of spattered bug remains on the windshield. And now begins the Mexican chapter of our journey (and the completion of an impromptu blog fast).